Last Updated on February 28, 2026 by The HD Post Staff

CALIFORNIA — Nearly half of California business leaders say they plan to add workers in 2026, even as concerns about the broader economy persist, according to JPMorgan Chase survey data cited by BizJournal.

The annual Business Leaders Outlook report focuses primarily on small and midsize companies.

Forty-five percent of California business owners surveyed say they plan to hire this year, and more than half, 60%, said they plan to debut new products and services in 2026.

Still, broader economic concerns persist.

BizJournal reported that 36% of California business leaders expect a recession or believe the economy is already in one, compared with 27% of business leaders nationwide.

71% feel positive about company’s outlook

While optimism about the national economy remains lower, a majority of respondents said they are confident in their own company’s performance in 2026.

The survey found that California business leaders have “strong expectations for revenue growth, hiring, and expansion into new markets” regarding their own companies’ prospects.  

Seventy-one percent of leaders surveyed in January feel positive about their company’s outlook, compared to 55% last June.

JPMorgan Chase conducted the survey as part of its annual outlook series, which tracks business sentiment on growth, hiring, investment, and economic risk. 

“California business leaders have faced a lot of uncertainty over the past year, but what really stands out to us is their resilience and ability to adapt,” said Brennan Crist, Pacific segment head of J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking.

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